System and methods for effectively taking surveys using mobile devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for more effectively obtaining and understanding a person's responses to a survey, poll, or questionnaire, specifically for persons providing a response using a mobile device (such as a smartphone). In some embodiments, a user of a mobile device may be provided with a survey or poll and asked to respond by using a gesture, a combination of a gesture and an audio input, a combination of a gesture and a key press, etc. The provided gesture may be one or more of a swipe (left or right, up or down), movement of an indicator along a scale, selection of one of a limited number of choices, etc. Survey taker response data and/or associated metadata may be used to determine which of a set of possible actions or events to present to the taker after completion of the survey.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for creating, distributing, and evaluating the results of a survey or poll taken by one or more survey takers by submitting a response using a mobile device, comprising:
 a set of executable instructions stored in an electronic data storage element;   an electronic processor programmed to execute the set of instructions, which when executed cause the system to implement a process or processes to
 enable a survey maker to create a survey or poll; 
 enable the created survey or poll to be distributed to the one or more survey takers; 
 receive data representing each taker's response to the distributed survey or poll, the received data including data representing one or more non-textual interactions with a display of a mobile device associated with the taker; 
 process the received data to determine each taker's responses to the survey or poll; 
 generate a display or other form of communication of a result of the processing of the received data to the survey maker; 
 present to a survey or poll taker, or to a set of survey or poll takers, one or more actions or events that may be initiated, the one or more actions or events based on the taker or takers responses; and 
 determine a charge or cost for the services provided by the system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the process of enabling a survey maker to create a survey or poll further comprises one or more of
 determining one or more statements, questions, or content elements to present to a taker of the survey or poll;   determining a response or range of responses that the taker may make to the presented statement, question, or content element;   determining one or more non-textual interactions with a user interface of a mobile device that the taker may provide in response to the presented statement, question, or content element; and   mapping at least one of the one or more non-textual interactions to the response or range of responses.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more non-textual interactions with the user interface of the mobile device depend on a characteristic of the device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more non-textual interactions with the user interface of the mobile device are provided or supplemented by an application, set of executable instructions, or plug-in provided by the survey maker or the operator of the system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more non-textual interactions with the user interface of the mobile device depend on a characteristic of the taker. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the received data representing a response to the distributed survey or poll includes data representing one or more of a swiping motion, a selection of one of a plurality of presented options, a movement of a slider along a scale, or a selection of an image. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the process or processes further comprise receiving metadata associated with the one or more non-textual interactions with the display of the mobile device, the received metadata representing one or more of:
 an indication of the pressure applied by the survey or poll taker when entering their response;   an indication of the time between when a question, statement, or image is presented and the survey or poll taker enters their response; or   an indication of the time required for the survey or poll taker to enter their response to a set of questions, statements, or images.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the process or processes further comprise processing the received metadata to determine or infer a relationship or association between the metadata and a taker's response or between the metadata and the conditions under which a response was made. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more actions or events that the survey taker may initiate based on the taker's responses and or metadata include:
 executing a purchase transaction;   generating a message;   generating a request for further information; or   navigating to a specified web page.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein determining a charge or cost for the services provided by the system include determining a charge or cost based on one or more of:
 a number of takers who respond;   a number of an action or event initiated by takers;   a total number of takers to whom the survey or poll is distributed; or   a value of one or more transactions initiated by a taker or takers as a result of taking the survey or poll.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the process or processes include maintaining an account for each of a plurality of survey makers, wherein maintaining an account further comprises:
 permitting access to an account upon providing appropriate authentication data;   evaluating the authentication data to determine if the authentication data is valid; and   providing access to one or more services of the system upon successful validation of the authentication data.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a display of a survey or poll taker's responses and presenting the display to the taker. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a display of the responses provided by a plurality of survey or poll takers and presenting the display to each of the plurality of takers. 
     
     
         14 . A method for conducting a survey or poll, comprising:
 receiving authentication data for a survey maker account from a user at a survey or poll data processing platform;   evaluating the received authentication data to determine if the authentication data is valid;   if the authentication data is valid, then providing the user access to a set of processes for constructing the survey or poll;   distributing the survey or poll to a plurality of possible survey takers;   receiving from at least some of the plurality of survey takers data generated by the survey takers device, the data representing the takers non-textual interactions with a user interface of their device in response to the survey or poll;   receiving from at least some of the plurality of survey takers metadata associated with the takers interactions in response to the survey or poll;   processing the received response data or metadata;   based on the processed response data or metadata, providing one or more of the survey takers with an option to initiate an event or action; and   determining a charge or cost for the services provided by the platform to the survey maker account.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the set of processes for constructing the survey or poll include one or more of identifying potential survey takers, identifying a set of possible survey taker responses, identifying one or more possible survey or poll taker non-textual interactions with a user interface of a device, or mapping a possible taker response to a non-textual interaction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of possible survey takers is determined by one or more of a common attribute, interest, or activity, or membership in an organization or group. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the data representing the takers non-textual interactions with a user interface of their device in response to the survey or poll include data representing one or more of a swiping motion, a selection of one of a plurality of presented options, a movement of a slider along a scale, or a selection of an image. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the received metadata represents one or more of:
 an indication of the pressure applied by the survey or poll taker when entering their response;   an indication of the time between when a question, statement, or image is presented and the survey or poll taker enters their response; or   an indication of the time required for the survey or poll taker to enter their response to a set of questions, statements, or images.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more actions or events that the survey taker may initiate include:
 executing a purchase transaction;   generating a message;   generating a request for further information; or   navigating to a specified web page.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein determining a charge or cost for the services provided by the system include determining a charge or cost based on one or more of:
 a number of takers who respond;   a number of an action or event initiated by takers;   a total number of takers to whom the survey or poll is distributed; or   a value of one or more transactions initiated by a taker or takers as a result of taking the survey or poll.